ITN-2025-023-AH CSU Spur Cafe _ Catering.pdf

Invitation to Negotiate

#ITN-2025-023-AH

CSU Spur Café and Catering

Purpose

The CSU Spur campus in Denver is seeking an interested elevated grab-and-go or quick-service restaurant operator for a 202 square foot café and bar storefront in the lobby of the Hydro Building. This operator would have first right of refusal for all event beverage service, including alcohol. Additional space for prep, a dish room, and storage are provided in addition to the storefront location. The operator would be the manager of CSU Spur’s liquor license and would provide bar service.

Background

The Colorado State University (CSU) System, along with its partners, has developed a unique and exciting public facility called CSU Spur at the National Western Center in Denver, Colorado. The CSU Spur campus houses three buildings focused on water, food and agriculture, human and animal health, and sustainability. Within the Spur buildings, CSU conducts research and convenes experts from around the globe; students of all ages engage with science and have opportunities for exploratory learning, transforming their thinking about food, water, and health, and the careers available in these fields; and partners join in programming the space and bringing evolving content to the year-round campus. CSU Spur is part of a larger 250-acre redevelopment project, reimagines what the National Western Center can be, creates a site that will support the National Western Stock Show long-term, while creating a year-round destination. The National Western Center will see two large buildings open in 2025, adjacent to CSU Spur and welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. A large number of these visitors will visit CSU Spur during the Stock Show.

CSU Spur houses 200 employees, partners, and tenants and welcomes over 100,000 general visitors each year. In addition to serving the general public, the restaurant operator will be provided with the first right of refusal for all beverage service at events. Currently, there are more than 600 annual events with 38,000 guests hosted in 82,000 square feet of event space. There are 42 event spaces including a 270-person capacity theater, 7 classrooms and 16 conference rooms. All spaces are licensed for the sale of alcohol.

Beverage services for events are a significant opportunity for revenue.

There is an additional opportunity to provide non-exclusive food service for events. CSU Spur hosts about 50 events a month with an average guest count of 60 guests. Most events hire a caterer to provide breakfast, lunch, or snacks and would appreciate a single invoice for all food and beverage needs. Events may range from a board meeting of 20 people to a reception of 300.

https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fnationalwesterncenter.com%2Fabout%2Fwhat-is-the-nwc%2F&data=05%7C02%7CMo.Walsh%40colostate.edu%7C1031e3d099214d3e6c8608dd57ac3fa9%7Cafb58802ff7a4bb1ab21367ff2ecfc8b%7C0%7C0%7C638763119492097874%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=0j5YVW7wjeeS6Z6LFUNfPdCgtXytMxwuA%2Bczu5WAjWo%3D&reserved=0

CSU Spur was created with an Anchor Institution framework and is committed to supporting the surrounding communities through the programming and activities developed at the campus. This includes opportunities for the café to employ local residents, and/or for the café vendor to offer educational or training opportunities to members of the community.

Conditions Provided

There is a 202 square foot storefront in the Hydro building lobby with an adjacent 231 square foot dish room. Across from the counter, there is a 360 square foot dining area with café tables. Behind the largest event venue, the Confluence Theater, there is an additional 209 square foot shared prep space. Both dry and refrigerated storage areas are provided in addition to the storefront location. All equipment associated with the base design of the cafe is provided and includes:

• Commercial coffee brewers for large batch and individual specialty coffee,

• Commercial ice maker and refrigerator,

• Stainless steel worktables and prep stations,

• Refrigerated display case,

• Counter griddle for food warming (no cooking)

• Digital display for signage or menu,

• Event tables for catering & bar setups,

• Beer dispensers and full bar equipment,

• Various kitchen smallwares and appliances.

Additional equipment, or modifications to the café or prep spaces, will be at the operator’s expense. CSU Spur does not provide linens for catering or events.

CSU Spur is a part of the National Western Center and abides by its Food Ethos (e.g., we do not sell single-use plastics, we use compostable materials). A café vendor will be required to work with CSU Spur leadership to ensure standards of ethics in sourcing and sustainability in operations are met. Additional CSU Spur and the operator will meet annually to review and approve food/beverage pricing.

Currently, CSU has a pouring rights contract with Coca-Cola. The café is required to serve Coca-Cola beverages until that contract expires and then abide by a new pouring rights contract.

Prospective Restaurant/Caterer Requirements

The following are the criteria required:

1. Hours of operation for the café 8:00am – 5:00pm, Mon-Fri and 10am-3pm one Saturday a month (these hours are subject to change)

2. Fresh brewed coffee for purchase or catering.

3. Specialty coffees and drinks, including espresso.

https://source.colostate.edu/csu-spur-anchored-in-community/ https://nationalwesterncenter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NWC_FoodEthos_6-3-20_4-1.pdf

4. 80% of all food needs to be prepared to heat quickly, within 5 minutes or less and 20% of food needs to be prepared in 10 minutes or less (no cooking from raw is allowed on the warming top).

5. Menu items must include vegetarian and gluten-free options.

6. Menu items must include grab-n-go options, such as breakfast burritos, salads and sandwiches.

7. Various levels of service for catering (pick-up to full service).

8. Food options for university students (fast, inexpensive, but healthy).

9. Children-friendly food options.

10. Competitive pricing based on comps.

11. A shared point of sale system.

12. Serve as the “manager” of the CSU Spur liquor license.

13. Identifiable staff with branded apparel (apron, hat, nametag etc.).

14. Supervision of staff to ensure the café is a welcoming space for all guests at CSU Spur.

Spur Hydro Building and Café Location

The Hydro Building at Spur is located at 4777 National Western Drive. Images of the location are provided below:

The café leasable spaces are located on the first floor of the Hydro building. See Attachment A for a first floor map with leasable café spaces highlighted in yellow.

Optional Site Visit

Interested vendors can schedule a site visit of the café space at 4777 National Western Drive by emailing Tami.McDonald@colostate.edu. Site visits will not be scheduled for dates occurring after May 14, 2025. For driving and parking instructions, please visit:

https://csuspur.org/visit/

Written Inquiries

Email inquiries to Alta.Herndon@colostate.edu. Inquiries must be submitted by 3pm MT on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Answers to inquiries will be posted on the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System (RMEPS) at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado/colorado-state-university as an addendum as soon as possible after the inquiry deadline.

Alta Herndon Procurement Services 6010 Campus Delivery Fort Collins, CO 80523-6010 Email: Alta.Herndon@colostate.edu Fax: 970-491-5448 mailto:Tami.McDonald@colostate.edu https://csuspur.org/visit/ mailto:Alta.Herndon@colostate.edu https://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado/colorado-state-university mailto:Alta.Herndon@colostate.edu

The Procurement Official listed herein is to be the SOLE point of contact concerning this ITN. Offerors shall not directly contact other personnel regarding matters concerning this ITN or to arrange meetings related to this solicitation.

Response Submission

If you are interested in taking part in discussions and negotiations, please upload a letter of interest with your proposal in a single file (PDF preferred) via the Rocky Mountain E- Purchasing System (RMEPS) at https://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado/colorado-state-university no later than Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at 3pm MT

Please include the following in your proposal:

1. Tell us about your concept.

2. Tell us about your company.

3. Describe your service philosophy and strategy.

4. Describe your sustainability practices.

5. What is your marketing strategy?

6. Describe your interest in providing the following: student opportunities such as student employment, beverage service and food service catering for meetings, catering service for high-level events, other distinguishing offerings.

7. Provide proposed initial pricing.

Presentations

Following submission of proposals, Offerors may be required to attend a proposal presentation and negotiation meeting(s) with the Committee. Presentation times are randomly assigned and may be virtual or onsite or a combination thereof.

ATTACHMENT A – Hydro building first floor layout with leasable café spaces highlighted in yellow.